The Notre Dame Fighting Irish stormed into West Lafayette with confidence and purpose, looking to maintain their momentum and silence a Purdue squad eager to protect home turf. What unfolded was a tense, physical contest that tested the Irish in every phase of the game, ultimately ending in a heartbreaking 31-28 loss that brought their late-game comeback effort to a screeching halt.
For three quarters, Notre Dame fought an uphill battle. Purdue controlled time of possession, won at the line of scrimmage, and consistently disrupted the Irish’s offensive rhythm. Yet despite the struggles and miscues, Notre Dame nearly completed a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback, showing resilience and grit that have long defined the program. In the end, a late turnover and a missed opportunity in the red zone sealed their fate.
The first half exposed Notre Dame’s vulnerability in the trenches. Purdue’s defensive front bullied its way through the Irish line, registering four sacks and pressuring quarterback Tyler Buchner on nearly every dropback. Buchner, starting his third game of the season, struggled to find open receivers under constant duress, finishing the half 8-of-16 for 92 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Purdue quarterback Hudson Card was sharp and poised, taking advantage of soft zone coverage and connecting with his playmakers in space.
Purdue opened the game with an efficient 12-play drive that culminated in a short touchdown run by Devin Mockobee. The Boilermakers’ offensive line created consistent gaps for the run game, allowing them to set the tone early. Notre Dame responded with a promising drive of its own, but it stalled inside the Purdue 25, forcing a field goal. That missed opportunity would loom large as the game progressed.
Penalties plagued the Irish throughout the first half. A costly personal foul on a third-and-long kept a Purdue drive alive in the second quarter, ultimately leading to another touchdown. The Irish were flagged eight times for 82 yards by halftime, a lack of discipline that undercut several strong defensive stands. Head coach Marcus Freeman could only shake his head as missed tackles and mental lapses gave Purdue extra life.
By halftime, Notre Dame trailed 21-10, and momentum clearly favored the Boilermakers. The Irish needed a spark — and they found it early in the third quarter. A 52-yard punt return by true freshman Jeremiah Love gave the offense excellent field position. Three plays later, Audric Estimé bulldozed his way into the end zone from nine yards out, trimming the deficit to four.
But as soon as Notre Dame seized momentum, Purdue snatched it back. Card led a flawless six-minute drive, exploiting mismatches on the perimeter and capping it off with a 14-yard strike to Deion Burks. The Boilermakers once again held a two-possession lead, and the Irish were running out of time.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Notre Dame found its rhythm. Buchner orchestrated a no-huddle drive that marched 75 yards in just over two minutes. A clutch 17-yard completion on fourth down to tight end Mitchell Evans kept the drive alive, and Buchner followed with a 12-yard scramble for a touchdown. The Irish trailed 28-24 with just under five minutes remaining.
The defense responded with a quick three-and-out, giving Notre Dame a golden opportunity to take the lead. The ensuing drive was the defining moment of the game. Buchner connected with Chris Tyree on a deep ball down the sideline, putting the Irish inside Purdue’s 15-yard line with 1:42 to play. But disaster struck on the next snap. Buchner, trying to evade pressure, was stripped from behind. Purdue recovered the fumble, and the sellout crowd at Ross-Ade Stadium erupted.
The Irish still had all three timeouts, and the defense held strong, forcing another punt with under 40 seconds remaining. A desperate final drive began at Notre Dame’s 28-yard line, but the Irish couldn’t reach midfield. A final Hail Mary fell harmlessly to the turf as time expired.
After the game, Freeman praised his team’s fight but didn’t sugarcoat the result. “We made too many mistakes to win a game like this on the road,” he said. “I’m proud of the way our guys battled, but we’ve got to clean it up — starting with me.”
For Notre Dame, the loss is a sobering reminder that effort alone isn’t enough. The Irish finished with more total yards (387 to 374), more first downs (22 to 19), and fewer turnovers — but they couldn’t convert key opportunities when it mattered most. Two missed field goals, double-digit penalties, and a critical fourth-quarter fumble all contributed to a defeat that felt preventable.
Buchner finished the game 19-of-33 for 247 yards with one touchdown and one rushing score. Estimé added 76 yards on the ground, while Tyree led all receivers with 91 yards. On defense, JD Bertrand recorded 11 tackles and a sack, but the Irish struggled to generate consistent pressure on Card, who went 24-of-36 for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
For Purdue, the win is a statement. Head coach Ryan Walters called it a “program-building victory” in his postgame remarks. “We knew we could play with anyone,” Walters said. “Today, we proved it.”
The Boilermakers were balanced and aggressive. Their game plan neutralized Notre Dame’s strengths and exploited their weaknesses. On both sides of the ball, Purdue looked like the more composed and prepared team for most of the game.
The loss is especially painful for the Irish considering what lies ahead. With matchups against ranked opponents looming, including USC and Clemson, Notre Dame’s margin for error has now shrunk considerably. A single play here or there — a converted red zone trip, a clean block, a penalty not taken — could have swung this result. But in football, the little things add up, and this time they added up to a loss.
Notre Dame will now return to South Bend looking to regroup. Leadership in the locker room will be crucial. The team’s veterans must rally the younger players and reinforce the importance of details. Every rep in practice will matter even more now. The coaching staff must also reassess its game management and address the penalty issues that have plagued the team in recent weeks.
There were bright spots, despite the result. Love’s electric return showed the Irish have a potential game-changer on special teams. Tyree’s emergence as a vertical threat adds a new dimension to the passing game. And Buchner, despite his uneven performance, showed flashes of resilience that could pay dividends down the road.
Still, those silver linings don’t change the bottom line. Notre Dame came up short in a game they had every chance to win. They had the ball in the red zone with under two minutes to go and couldn’t finish the job. For a program with College Football Playoff aspirations, that’s the kind of loss that can linger.
The coaching staff will no doubt spend the week reviewing tape, identifying breakdowns, and stressing fundamentals. Players will be challenged to stay focused, maintain belief, and come back stronger. Because while the season is far from over, the road only gets tougher from here.
One loss doesn’t define a team — but how that team responds to the loss just might. Notre Dame has the talent, coaching, and tradition to bounce back. But to do so, they’ll need more than heart. They’ll need discipline, execution, and the ability to rise when it matters most.
The comeback was real. The effort was undeniable. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Not this time. Not at Purdue.